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This sequence was created using Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) high-resolution altimetry data and thus the morphology of the floor of Shackleton is revealed in detail without the permanent shadow characteristic of optical images. To download a high definition version of this movie, please click here.

The discovery of polar volatile materials on the Moon and Mercury has revolutionized our thinking about the origin, evolution and exploration of these significant scientific legacies and potential future resources. What is the nature and distribution of these materials? How did they form? What is their age? How are they maintained? What is their abundance? What records do they hold of the geological, geochemical and orbital history of history of the Moon and Mercury? What can they tell us about the degassing history of the Moon and Mercury? What can they tell us about the flux of comets in the Solar System? What can we learn from the comparison of polar volatile materials on Mercury and the Moon? How do we explore these materials in the future to address these questions and to assess their potential for supporting human exploration?

In this Microsymposium, we will explore our current knowledge of these materials and seek to identify the key questions, goals and objectives in order to underpin and motivate future exploration. We will review current exploration plans, including the U.S. Resource Prospector, Russian Luna 25-27, and ESA BepiColombo missions.

1. The Nature of Polar Volatile Materials on the Moon and Mercury,

2. The Origin of Polar Volatile Deposits,

3. Outstanding Scientific Questions about Polar Volatile Deposits on the Moon and Mercury,